Offshore medic
Career outlook for offshore medic
Average UK salary
£29,120
Currently employed in Scotland
3,700
"LMI for All" supplies our salary and employment status information. "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures. Due to COVID-19 the jobs market is constantly changing. Some of the information may not reflect the current situation.
What's it like?
You would treat people working on an offshore oil or gas rig for any injuries or illnesses.
You’d provide medical care for anyone on the rig or platform who has an accident and make sure that people are fit and safe to work. The health, safety and welfare of all those working on the rig would be your responsibility. You would also carry out administrative tasks.
You would:
- Provide 24-hour medical care for the crew
- Carry out routine health checks
- Treat illnesses and minor wounds
- Keep accurate medical records
- Train other people on the rig in first aid
- Order new supplies of medicines and equipment
- Carry out health promotion activities
- Advise on health and safety issues
- Arrange for very ill people to be taken back to land for treatment
You would need to advise the senior managers if you thought a person was not fit for work or might affect other people’s safety.
If someone had an injury or illness that you were not sure how to treat, you would phone the onshore company doctor for advice.
Working conditions
Hours
Environment
Travel
UK employment status
Full-time
79%
Part-time
21%
Self employed
0%
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- Adaptability
- Resilience
- Listening
- Verbal communication
- Problem solving
- Questioning
- Social conscience
- Filtering
- Making decisions
- Taking responsibility
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Qualifications
You must complete an HSE Approved Medical Training Course. Depending on the course you may complete a variety of First Aid and Advanced Life Support (ALS) certificates. The course must include HSE Approved Offshore Medic certificates to allow you to work offshore in the UK.
To be accepted onto an HSE Approved Medical Training Course you will need to be either:
- An experienced nurse registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
- An experienced paramedic registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
If you have other relevant medical and nursing qualifications, and extensive experience, you may also be considered.
If you are applying as an experienced Army Combat Medical Technician, Royal Air Force Medic, Royal Navy Medic or Leading Medical Assistants you may be asked to provide competency log books.
At the end of three years, offshore medics need to complete an offshore medic requalification course to continue working as medics in the offshore environment.
Useful subjects
- English (required by many courses)
- Maths (required by many courses)
- Science subjects, in particular biology or human biology (required by many courses)
- Care
- Social studies subjects such as psychology
You will also need
- To complete Basic offshore induction and emergency training (BOSIET)
- To be approved for membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme run by Disclosure Scotland
You need to be 18 years of age or older to work offshore.
You will also need a valid Oil and Gas UK (OGUK) Offshore Medical Certificate. This involves passing a medical examination which classifies you as medically fit to work in the offshore environment.
You must also provide evidence that you do not have, and have been immunised against, Hepatitis B.
Helpful to have
Qualifications and experience dealing with emergency situations and demonstrating advanced life support skills.